Liquid switch



LIQUID SWITCH Filed Jan. 11, 1952 E. VOGELSANGER ET AL ELF Feb. 2,. 1954 g g INVENTORS Erna-Z Vogezsangerq jor-enzo Vezzo, BY

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,668,217 LIQUID SWITCH Application January 11, 1952, Serial No. 266,022

Claims priority, application Switzerland August 28, 1951 2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to liquid switches, and more particularly to electric circuit breakers of the fluid blast type.

Liquid switches with points of interruption ar- 2 which is in communication at one end with the outlet of a liquid conduit 5, and at the other end with three are quenching passages 25. The conduit 5 is U shaped, the inlet end thereof beranged in series and a pumping arrangement to 5 ing centered in the cylinder 9 and adapted to feed the insulating liquid to the quenching champroject into the open end of a hollow piston bers require considerable power for blasting the 8 which is integral with a switch contact rod liquid through the vaporized quenching medium 6 when the latter is moved axially to the right because of the increased pressure thereof when away from a countercontact i of the switch. the switch opens. 10 Such movement is accomplished through the This disadvantage can be eliminated if acactuation to the right of parallel coupling rods cording to the present invention the movable l2, l2 which are connected at one end by links contact of each quenching chamber is given the 26, 26 to lateral arms 21, 21 affixed to the hollow form of a piston andisguidedina cylinder which piston 8, and at the other end to arms 28, 28 together with the piston forms a pump which of a crank it. The crank is mounted to turn forces the quenching liquid through a channel on a bracket 29 in the support it. When so connecting the cylinder with the quenching operated the hollow piston 8 serves to deliver chamber across the switching-off arc. the insulatin medium and serves at the same In the drawing: time, at least to a certain extent, as damping Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical means for the moving masses. Cylinder 9 is cross-sectional view of a liquid switch illustratthe guide of the movable contact rod 6 and at ing the invention; the same time the cylinder of the piston 8. The

Fig.2isa fragmentary, longitudinal, horizontal parts 5, 8 and 9 form the liquid pump. The cross-sectional view of such switch; countercontact I is provided with a piston l0 Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a circuit on which presses a screw spring H. The breaker composed of three liquid switch units countercontact l is displaced by the pressure of embodying the invention; the movable rod 5 in an axial direction. The

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a modificapiston in and spring ll provide a follow-up motion composed of six switch units; and tion of the contact 1 in circuit opening, and the Fig. 5 is another modification of three switch 30 energy of the moved masses is absorbed in cirunits arranged in a vertical pile. cuit closing.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the When the pump is operated in opening the switch unit comprises a tubular insulator I conswitch, the arc quenching medium forced through taining an insulating tube 2. Such insulator the conduit 5 is blasted across the contact open- I and tube 2 are connected to a right-hand metal ing. The fluid back-pressure arising in the housing or casing 3 which, in turn, is mounted chamber 4 when the circuit is opened renders onahollow support l6havingaliquid tight socket acceleration of the contact rod 6 impossible by H in communication with the interior of the retarding the movement of pump piston 8. At housing 3. Such housing is provided with inthe same time the pump pistonflserves to dampen te nal b ack la n Which s mounted O the circuit opening of contact it, while the counend of an elongated cylinder 9. The housing 3 tercontact I dampens the circuit closing thereof. also contains internal brackets l9, l9 which serve As shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the quenching t supp rt th t r n of t y d r 9 th u h chamber device 4 with the movable contact a an annulus 20 mounted o th brackets and the countercontact 1 form a switching elea y d r 2| mounted 011 Such annulus, a rod ment inserted in the insulator. These parts may 22 mounted on the Cy and a nut 23 be constructed independently of adjacent switch connecting the ends of the rod 22 and the cyle1ements inder 9. Figs. 3-5 show, for example, assemblies of Corresponding brackets [9, I9 in the left-hand switch 1 m made according t Fig 1, housin 3 S v to pp another 31111111115 20 Having thus described our invention, we claim: which in this case in u n ppo One end of 1. A liquid switch comprising the combination an a quenching Chamber device the other of an elongated switch contact member having end of which s Suppo t y the brackets l3, opposite portions consisting of a contact rod and I8. The device 4 i p ev d With an eccentric a hollow piston, respectively; a device having an passage 24 for the arc quenching liquid (oil),

are quenching chamber provided with a longitudinal passage for said rod and a series of cross passages for directing an arc quenching liquid blast; an elongated cylinder constituting a guide for-said hollow, piston; agu-shaped con- '4 by said countercontact piston; a liquid container for said parts provided With means supporting said cylinders and said arc quenching chamber device inv fixed relative-relationship in duit having one end :alined with said hollow 5 the container; anduan arc quenching rliquid in piston and projecting therein when the latter is moved inwardly of said cylinder; said are quenching chamber device having a quenching liquid inlet passage in communication withthe which such parts are immersed in said container.

2.,A circuit breaker comprising a plurality of liquid switches, as defined by claim 1, means connecting said switches in series relation, and

other end of said conduit; such.parts. fo1"rning l means. for. operating, such switches in unison a liquid pump which, when theielengated switch-r contact member is actuated to open ther.switchgz forces an arc quenching liquid blast through 1:

said cross passages; a countercontactior, said,

comprising. lateralarms fixed to each movable contact member; means including parallel couplin sal nkedgwitn said arms, and a crank connected to a pair ofsaid couplings for retracting switch, a piston connected tdsaidcountercon "an-wadvancing'said movable contact members tact, a cylinder for said last-named@.:pi 10n;:fiends.

a spring in said last-named cylinder urging saidi; countercontact piston and countercontact t0v ward said movable contact, whereby during the switch opening movement-the separation of said 20 contacts-is delayed by-said-=-countercontact spring-= which: urges said countercontact piston-and the countercontact to follow the: movable -contact to a certain extent---until*thearc-extinguishing"- blast of-the arcquenchingpump iseffective to" extinguish" the arc resulting-from such separation-,-and during. the switch closing. operation the v. motion of the movablej contact ,is .damped to;openand;close .all of the switches and the pumps-of the'circuit breaker in unison.

ERNST VOGELSANGER. LORENZO UBEZIO.

References Cited vin thecfile-iof this patent .r.

UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number 4- Name Date 1,740,531 Aalborg Dec. 24, 1929 1,140,558 Ainsworth .Dec. 24, 1929 1,814,841 Paul July 14, 1931 2,158,846, Balachowsky Feb. 4, 1937 2,219,171 Balachowsky Oct. 22, 1940 

